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donderdag 3 mei 2012

Sam Mendes has compared the James Bond film series to the Doctor Who franchise.

The Skyfall director said that the way in which each Doctor regenerates into a new character is similar to each incarnation of Bond.

The comparison arose when Mendes discussed the one-off George Lazenby Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which he compared to Skyfall in terms of making James Bond more "human" and closer to Ian Fleming's novels.

Speaking about the 1969 film, he told Collider: "It's commonly considered a neglected classic, and I think it is. I think it's where you see him, as a character, pushed to the edge because he does fall in love and he loses her.

"I think that Lazenby was dealt a pretty cruel hand because he was following [Sean] Connery who they just did a home run the first time they got to bat. And then they asked him to do strange things which I thought spoke a little bit of their insecurity, for example, right at the beginning, he turns to camera and says to camera, 'That wouldn't happen with the other guy'.

"They were playing almost embarrassment, almost apologised for having a new Bond and I thought that was wrong, and I thought what they got right was Casino Royale.

"There was a kind of 'We don't need Q, we don't need Moneypenny. We've got this character. We're going right back to basics. He's real, he's in a real situation. Let's start all over again'. I thought that was very refreshing."

He added: "That's why I mentioned the word in the press conference, 'regeneration' rather than 'evolving', because I feel it is like, you know, we have Doctor Who and I was brought up on the idea of Doctor Who, who at the end of his final episode, he dissolves and a new actor pops up and he regenerates and it's a whole other character.

"Sometimes it's an old man, sometimes it's a young man, but he just changes. I've always loved that idea."

Skyfall is due to be released on October 26 in the UK and November 9 in the US, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond and Dame Judi Dench as M alongside Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes.

L.A. NOIR (TNT) - "The Walking Dead" alums Jeffrey DeMunn and Andrew Rothenberg have both landed roles on the drama pilot, about the epic battle between Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker (Neal McDonough) and mobster Mickey Cohen (yet to be cast) in the 1950s. DeMunn will play Hal Morrison, "the detective at the head of the LAPD mob squad," with Rothenberg guest starring as Eddy Sanderson, "a member of Hal's team." Alexa Davalos, Jeremy Strong, Jon Bernthal, Milo Ventimiglia and Simon Pegg also star in the project, from writer/director Frank Darabont and producer Michael De Luca. (TVGuide.com)

TWO AND A HALF MEN (CBS) - Co-stars Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones have all reached deals to return for a 10th season of the veteran comedy. It's understood Kutcher will earn about $700,000 per installment with Cryer coming in a bit less and Jones at $300,000 an episode. In addition, co-creator Lee Arohnson is stepping down as co-showrunner. It's understood fellow executive producers Don Reo and Jim Patterson will fill said void alongside co-creator Chuck Lorre. Arohnson however will continue as an executive consultant. Meanwhile, Eddie Gorodetsky is also expected to return as an executive producer as well as a consulting producer on fellow Lorre-produced series "The Big Bang Theory." (Deadline.com)

TRUE DETECTIVE (HBO, New!) - Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson's proposed eight-part drama has found a home at the pay channel. Writer Nic Pizzolatto and director Cary Fukunaga are behind the Anonymous Content-based project, which is described as "an elevated serial narrative with multiple perspectives and time frames [which] centers on two detectives, Rust Cohle (McConaughey) and Martin Hart (Harrelson), whose lives collide and entwine during a seventeen-year hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana." It's understood said freshman run will resolve its central mystery with subsequent seasons using same structure but use new characters and story. Production presumably will begin later this year with Richard Brown and Steve Golin executive producing alongside Pizzolatto and Fukunaga with Bard Dorros also receiving a producing credit. Pizzolatto has also signed a development deal with the network for other projects. (Deadline.com)

The network has given the go-ahead to a new celebrity dating show that sounds a touch like NBC's hit singing competition in more ways than one. Four celebrities? Blind auditions? Spinning chairs? Yup, yup and yup.

Hosted by Cat Deeley, the show will feature four male celebrities choosing potential suitors using only the sounds of their voices as they describe their lives and passions. When one of the famous bachelors hears something he likes, he pulls his "love handle" (yes, really), which sends him spinning to face his suitor. If more than one celebrity expresses interest, they must vie for her affection until she chooses whose dating pool she wants to join.

The rounds progress, with the celebrity eventually choosing one lucky lady for a dream date.

There's only one hard-and-fast rule of Emmy submissions: Set your ego aside.

That might sound counterintuitive in a process that's about rewarding rich and famous people for doing their jobs exceptionally well. But as Emmy contenders submit their best work this week, those who have been through the process told TheWrap, again and again, that flexibility is key.

Not just about what episode to submit. Entrants also need to be open-minded about what category to enter. And even what genre.

And they should listen to the publicists, network executives and countless others who are sometimes better judges of their best work than they are.

Also read: How David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Brought 'Game of Thrones' to Life

“An objective third party has won many an Emmy for actors and producers -- if they can check their egos at the door,” said Richard Licata, NBC’s executive vice president of communications, who has also handled Emmy campaigns for Fox, HBO and Showtime, including the one that earned Edie Falco her win for "Nurse Jackie."

Part of his job is being blunt with talent.

"We have suggested, ‘Maybe that’s not the best episode for you,'" he said, without mentioning specific actors. "'All you’re doing in it is crying, and it doesn’t show your gifts throughout the season.’”

The decision to enter "Nurse Jackie" as a comedy rather than a drama in 2010 was one of the great moments in Emmy strategizing and led to Falco's win in the lead comedic actress category.

She all but admitted that her pill-popping nurse could just as easily have been considered a dramatic character when she said in her self-effacing acceptance speech: “I’m not funny!” (But she was funny. She was even funny when she won three dramatic Emmys for "The Sopranos," a drama that sometimes felt like ink-black comedy.)

This year, "Game of Thrones" star Peter Dinklage is demonstrating similar savvy. With many of his former castmates' characters killed off, he is essentially the lead actor on the HBO fantasy series. (And the funniest.) But he has chosen to again submit in the supporting dramatic actor category after winning it last year.

He would have faced fierce competition as a lead actor nominee against the likes of three-time "Breaking Bad" winner Bryan Cranston. In the supporting category, Dinklage is the man to beat.

Contenders in the outstanding series categories have until Friday, the overall Emmy submission deadline, to choose their six episodes. Actors, however, don’t need to choose their episodes until after they’re nominated. Other categories have different deadlines.

While Emmy nominations are made based on an entire season of work, winners are chosen in most categories by special panels who view their submissions -- single episodes in most categories, and six episodes in outstanding-series fields.

For miniseries contenders, all of the installments count as one entry, whether the miniseries lasts four hours or 12.

Most contenders and advisors are well aware of near-winners who might have taken home a prize with a better approach — like "Roseanne" also-ran John Goodman, and, most famously, Susan Lucci, who lost 18 times before finally landing a Daytime Emmy.

"You have to exert shrewdness and sometimes deviousness,” said Tom O’Neil, founder of the awards-tracking website Gold Derby. “It’s shocking to me how many contenders are ignorant of the process and don’t think through their submissions.”

Both Goodman and Lucci, O’Neil said, were notorious for choosing the wrong episode each year. Lucci, for example, tended to favor big, bombastic performances over the types that usually win. O'Neil says voters favor actors who demonstrate range, impact and empathy in a role — like Cranston, who has won three times for playing a chemistry teacher who becomes a meth kingpin on "Breaking Bad"

Ideally, said Licata, an actor, network and studio come to a collaborative decision, as they did on Mariska Hargitay’s performance this year on “Father’s Shadow,” an episode of NBC’s "Law & Order: SVU." All agreed the episode, in which she shares a grim secret with a young hostage taker, should be her submission as she seeks another nomination in the lead dramatic actress category.

But when egos clash, the results can be disastrous for Emmy dreams.

Shows sometimes suffer in the best drama or comedy category because a producer submits episodes he or she directed, even if others were better, Licata said. And staff writers sometimes find their hopes dashed by their bosses – who have aspirations of their own.

"Showrunners have control over the scripts, and they often save the most emotional, Emmy-worthy story ideas for themselves,” said one veteran writer who asked not to be identified.

For Greg Yaitanes, a former executive producer and director on "House" who won a directing Emmy for the series in 2008, the award was a surprise, not a plan. He nearly entered the directing category for an episode of "Damages" that he helmed. But he decided at the last minute to submit the "House" episode because of the buzz surrounding it.

“I went for what I thought was a Hail Mary,” he said. But the "House" episode, “House’s Head,” went on to beat the pilots for "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad" and "Damages," as well an episode of "Boston Legal."

"It was like the 'Rocky' story," he said.

He’s hoping for a sequel. Yaitanes, who is now showrunner on Cinemax’s upcoming "Banshee," is entering the drama directing category this year with an episode from the final season of "House."

Entrants say they set out to create the best television they can, without thinking about Emmys.

“We really don’t think of Emmys when we’re doing our work,” says "Walking Dead" showrunner Glen Mazzara, who is entering the series in the outstanding drama category this year. “We just concentrate on telling the best story that we can.”

One reason not to think about Emmys early on, he says, is that predictions have a way of backfiring. On past shows he’s worked on, writers have occasionally said, even before an episode began shooting, that it felt like a winner.

“I’ve heard that one a lot,” Mazara said. “And then when you say, ‘I thought that was your Emmy episode,’ they never laugh back.”

Lauren Socha, a star of E4's Misfits, has pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault of a taxi driver.

The BAFTA-winning actress, who plays Kelly in the teen drama, was sentenced to four months in jail for attacking Sakander Iqbal in Derby city centre in the early hours of the morning on October 1 last year.

Socha was accused of punching and racially abusing the cab driver following a nine-hour drinking session. Iqbal, 52, is quoted by The Independent as saying that the incident represents the worst abuse he has received since moving to the UK in 1970.

"She called me a P**i, a dirty b**stard and said, 'You're Asian, f**k off back to where you came from'," he told reporters. "She said, 'Do you know who I am? I'll have your family lifted'."

Judge Hilary Watson sentenced her to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months, telling her: "Your conduct on that night was despicable and Mr Iqbal rightly brought it to the attention of the police and then the courts.

"When heavily in drink and pumped up you chose to express yourself in that despicable way."

Outside the court, 21-year-old Socha insisted that she "cared" about the consequences of her actions.

Her mother, Kathleen Lyons, apologised on Socha's behalf outside the court but claimed her behaviour was "out of character".

Merlin exec Julian Murphy has promised that the show will grow more "sophisticated".

The writer / producer told CultBox that the fantasy drama's young fans have grown up with the series.

"As happens with many of these things – I guess Harry Potter being the most famous example - you do take the younger audience with you and to keep them you need to offer more sophisticated fare," said Murphy.

The Merlin co-creator also revealed further casting details for series five, confirming that Alexander Vlahos will replace Hugo star Asa Butterfield as Morded.

"We're happy to officially say that Alexander Vlahos is playing the older Mordred," he said. "He's in a lot of [the fifth series]."

Murphy added that new episodes of Merlin are again likely to debut in the autumn, following the October 2011 premiere of series four.

"We expect to be pretty much where we were last time, up against The X Factor," he revealed. "They don't tell us for certain until very late in the day, though!"

The BBC recently revealed to Digital Spy that Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham will appear in the new series of Merlin.

"Modern Family" might not be the most obvious choice to be showered with accolades by a religious organization, but the ABC comedy was honored by the Catholics in Media Associates over the weekend anyway.

"Modern Family" -- the show known for the gay marriage of Cameron Tucker and Mitchell Pritchett and, more recently, the foul-mouth tirade of child character Lily -- received the Television Award at the 2012 CIMA Awards, held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunday.

"This remains far and away the best prime-time sitcom: crisp and farcical, but very kind," CIMA notes on its web site. "This fast-paced mockumentary perfectly captures the experience of parenthood."

Other honorees at the ceremony included Martin Scorsese's 3D film "Hugo," the Emilio Estevez/Martin Sheen movie "The Way" and the Tom Shadyac documentary "I Am."

According to the Catholics in Media Associates web site, the group "was formed by working professionals in the entertainment industry whose initial purpose was to share personal concerns of faith and spirituality as it is experienced in the workplace."

The purpose of the CIMA Awards is to recognize "those projects and people in the entertainment industry who, by their work, have made clearer the Word of God."

In addition to the CIMA Award, "Modern Family" has also received a Golden Globe, several Emmys, a few Television Critics Association Awards, a number of Peabody Awards and a GLAAD Media Award, among others.

Ashton Kutcher's new ad for a potato chip company could find him eating crow soon.

The "Two and a Half Men" star's ad for Popchips has raised the hackles of some in the Twitterverse, who are criticizing the ad as racist because Kutcher wears "brownface" in it.

The commercial parodies dating-service ads, with Kutcher playing Raj, a 39-year-old "Bollywood producer" who's looking for love. But the ad itself isn't getting much love from Internet detractors, who are criticizing the brown makeup and stereotypical behavior he displays in the spot.

New York writer/entrepreneur Anil Dash called for an apology from Popchips, Kutcher and others associated with the ad.

"I think the people behind this Popchips ad are not racist. I think they just made a racist ad, because they're so steeped in our culture's racism that they didn't even realize they were doing it," Dash wrote.

Brooklyn-based hip-hop group Das Racist was similarly unimpressed, and urged people to contact the company in protest.

The ad is one in a series of Kutcher portraying a number of caricatures, including a bearded redneck, a dreadlocked British hippie and a pony-tailed German fashionista.

Popchips claims that the ad campaign wasn't intended to offend.

"The new Popchips worldwide dating video and ad campaign featuring four characters was created to provoke a few laughs and was never intended to stereotype or offend anyone," the company said in a statement provided to TheWrap. "At Popchips we embrace all types of shapes, flavors and colors, and appreciate all snackers, no matter their race or ethnicity. We hope people can enjoy this in the spirit it was intended."

A spokeswomen for Kutcher has not yet responded to TheWrap's request for comment -- though it's a safe bet that the actor is probably blushing right now, under all that brownface makeup.

Kelly Rowland has reportedly told friends that she feels "stitched up" after executives for The X Factor said that they did not want to bring her back as a judge this year.

X Factor insiders claim that despite the singer's announcement that she was quitting the show, they were keen on signing former judge Dannii Minogue for the next series.

Previous reports suggested that producers withdrew their offer for Rowland to return after the star allegedly demanded £1.5 million to return to the programme.

Sources close to Rowland told The Mirror that the singer maintains it was her decision "not to sign" a contract to return as judge on the ITV1 reality singing competition.

"She has emails going back months showing discussions, so it is stupid of them to say they didn't want her or she was being greedy," one insider claimed. "Simon Cowell has gone on record saying he wanted Kelly back.

"She loved doing the show so feels a bit let down. She feels stitched up now and it just looks like they are panicking because they don't have a judge."

Rowland described her time as an X Factor judge as "an ­incredible experience I'll never forget".

Some close to the former Destiny's Child star say she is gearing up to pursue more projects in the US, including a foray into film and a new studio album.

The search is still on for a fourth judge to join Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh.

Executives currently have a deadline of May 23 to find a replacement, when the first auditions in front of judges are scheduled to take place in Liverpool.

The Federal Communications Commission ruled in Bloomberg TV's favor Wednesday in a dispute with Comcast, saying that the cable provider must give the business news network with more desirable channel positions.

The FCC set certain terms under its approval of Comcast's acquisition of NBCUniversal last year. Bloomberg argued that under those terms, it was defined as an "independent news channel" entitled to appear in the same "news neighborhoods" as the major cable networks, including CNN, MSNBC and Fox News.

Comcast said it would appeal the ruling. It calls for Bloomberg to be placed in the same neighborhoods as the major news networks. In cases where Comcast offers mutiple groupings of news networks, Bloomberg may not be able to choose which neighborhood it is placed in.

The decision was issued by the FCC's media bureau. Comcast said it would appeal to the full commission

"We plan to immediately appeal to the full Commission and believe they will agree to enforce only conditions as they were originally negotiated and intended and that the Media Bureau's mis-interpretation will be overturned," said Sena Fitzmaurice, vice president of government communications for Comcast.

Bloomberg welcomed the news and praised the FCC for having "the foresight to include the news neighborhooding condition in the Comcast/NBCU merger order and the willingness to enforce it."

"Many in the public interest community have worked tirelessly with us to promote the availability of independent sources of news to the public, and we look forward to working with Comcast to implement the order over the next 60 days," said Greg Babyak, Bloomberg's head of government affairs.

On a Tuesday night when many shows hit or matched series or season lows, NBC's "The Voice" was the top-rated show and CBS the top-rated network overall thanks to the "NCIS" franchise, according to preliminary numbers.

CBS took first place in ratings and total viewers with an average 2.6 rating/7 share in the advertiser-cherished 18-49 demographic and 14.3 million. "NCIS" dipped slightly from its last original two weeks ago, hitting a season low of 3.0/9 in the demo. It had 17.2 million total viewers, which made it the most-watched program of the night. "NCIS: LA," which had its own series low three weeks ago, returned Tuesday night to a 25 percent increase in the demo, receiving a 3.0/8 and 15 million total viewers. "Unforgettable" at 10 ran even with last week, tying its series low in the demo with a 1.8/5 and 10.6 million total viewers.

NBC took second place in ratings and third in total viewers with an average 2.3/6 in the demo and 6.7 million total viewers. "The Biggest Loser" finale at 8 dropped 30 percent in the demo from last week's finale, scoring its lowest season finale ratings to date with a 2.1/7 and 7.1 million total viewers. "The Voice" at 9 slipped to a series low of 3.1/8 in the demo, and had 8.9 million total viewers. "Fashion Star" the following hour also declined, tying a series low of 1.5/4 in the demo with 4.2 million total viewers.

Fox came in third in ratings and fourth in total viewers with an average 2.1/6 and 4.8 million. "Glee" at 8 was down 11 percent from last week, tying a series low with a 2.4/8. It had 6 million total viewers. "The New Girl" at 9 dropped 19 percent to a series low of 2.1/6 in the demo and 4.4 million total viewers. A "New Girl" repeat finished the night at 9:30.

ABC took fourth in ratings and second in total viewers with an average 1.9/5 in the demo and 8.9 million. "Last Man Standing" at 8 dropped 13 percent from its last original two weeks ago to hit a series low of 1.4/5 in the demo with 6.5 million total viewers, while "Cougar Town" at 8:30 also dropped 13 percent to hit a series low in the demo, posting a 1.3/4. It had 5 million total viewers. "Dancing With the Stars" was down to a 2.3/6, a series low for regular episodes, and 13.4 million total viewers. "Private Practice" at 10 also dipped somewhat, drawing a 2.1/6 and 7.6 million total viewers.

HBO's cancellation of the beleagured horseracing drama "Luck" cost the network $35 million, according to an earnings report released by Time Warner Wednesday.

Time Warner, which owns the premium cable provider, said it suffered the "impairment" because of the series' cancellation in its first season following the death of three horses.

The show had already started production on its second season, and most of the costs were attached to shutting down production during that unaired season, resulting in the $35 million writedown, HBO said.

The series, executive produced by David Milch and Michael Mann and starring Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, debuted to high expectations. But it earned disappointing ratings and quickly became embroiled in questions about the horse deaths during filming. HBO's decision to cancel the show in March helped contain the scandal and protect a reputation the network has spent decades building.

Overall, Time Warner reported an 11 percent drop in profits for the first quarter, falling to $583 million compared to $653 million in the same quarter last year. But it beat analysts' expectations.

Network revenues for HBO and the Turner stations were up 3 percent to $3.6 billion, with increases of 5 percent in HBO subscription revenues, primarily because of higher domestic rates, the report said.

It also said that HBO's "Game of Thrones" has been the most-watched drama on cable for the first four weeks of its second season, averaging a gross audience of 11.1 million viewers per episode -- a 20 percent increase over last season.

Syfy has locked in some additional summer plans, which include the launch of the Mark Burnett-produced "School Spirits" on Wednesday, June 20 at 10:00/9:00c.

The hour-long series, which is co-produced by Jarrett Creative Group, tells "true ghost stories of hauntings that have happened at schools across the country." Leading into the newcomer will be the second season of "Haunted Collector," which rolls out on Wednesday, June 6 at 9:00/8:00c.

Also on tap in June is the debut of the cable channel's much-ballyhooed original movie "Jersey Shore Shark Attack." The film, due on Saturday, June 9 at 9:00/8:00c, stars Tony Sirico, Paul Sorvino, Jack Scalia, Joey Fatone, William Atherton and "Jersey Shore's" own Vinny Guadagnino.

Then look for "Arachnoquake" on Saturday, June 23 at 9:00/8:00c. Said original, in which massive earthquakes unleash giant albino spiders that go on a murderous rampage through New Orleans, stars Tracey Gold, Bug Hall, Ethan Phillips and Edward Furlong.

Matt LeBlanc has said that he has no plans for any sort of Friends reunion, claiming that the show was a chapter of his life that is now "closed".

LeBlanc, who played Joey Tribbiani in the classic '90s sitcom, admitted that it was part of the "best ten years" of his life, but appeared to rule out any plans for further TV or big screen instalments.

"It was the best ten years of my life. I had the best time doing it. But I don't think 'miss' is the right word. It will always have a special place in my heart, but that was a time and a place and that chapter is closed," said LeBlanc.

"It was very sad when it ended but you move on - all good things come to an end."

The comic actor plays a twisted, darker version of himself in BBC Two and Showtime's Episodes, which launches its second series in the UK next month. Speaking about his joy at playing the role, he said: "My whole career I have played very politically correct characters and to not have to worry about major network constraints - you can't say that or you can't do that gesture or put your hand there or refer to those - is such fun. Now it's like '**** all that'."

Episodes follows the story of British writers and lovers Sean (Stephen Mangan) and Beverly (Tamsin Greig), who are lured to Hollywood to adapt their British boarding-school sitcom Lyman's Boys. However, the show is quickly changed by the US networks to the retitled Pucks and an arrogant, washed-up 'Matt LeBlanc' is cast as the lead.

LeBlanc added of the new run: "It starts four months after the end of the first season, Pucks! has been picked up and we are in production. Sean and Beverly are not together and we are doing our best to navigate through this awkward love triangle.

"At the end of the first season, Sean says to Beverly, 'When we get home to Britain, I'm out'; so, should they go back to London, their marriage is definitely over. In the first season, Beverly wants to go home and he wants to stay - in the second season he wants to go home, but if they stay she hopes she can get him to get past what happened and he can forgive her."

HBO has decided not to go forward with its drama pilot "The Corrections."

The network told TheWrap that it has pulled the plug on the project, based on the Jonathan Franzen novel. The pilot would have starred Ewan McGregor as Chip, the younger son of an elderly Midwestern couple trying to draw all of their children home for one last Christmas together." In the book, Chip is a writer and academic who gets mixed up with a Lithuanian crime boss.

Franzen co-wrote the pilot, which had begun shooting in New York, with Noah Baumbach. Scott Rudin was producing.

The pilot was also to star Chris Cooper and Dianne Wiest as the parents. Greta Gerwig was also cast in the project.

Michael Wright Promoted to President, Head of Programming for TBS, TNT, TCM

Michael Wright, who helped acquire "The Big Bang Theory" repeats for TBS and recruit Conan O'Brien to the network, has been promoted to president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies.

The promotion comes as TNT and TBS are expanding their original programming slates. TNT is brining back five original series and launching four new series over the next five months, including a "Dallas" revival debuting in June. TBS is planning three new scripted comedy series this year.

Wright joined TNT in 2002 and has served since 2008 as executive vice president, head of programming, for TNT, TBS and TCM. He is based in Los Angeles and reports to Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks.

Wright helped make "The Closer" basic cable's top series for five consecutive years, then aided "Rizzoli & Isles" in claiming the top spot when it premiered in 2010. He was also involved in making "Falling Skies" last year's top new series on basic cable.

His team has also scored with young viewers with a lineup including "The Big Bang Theory," "Conan" and "Family Guy."

"Michael Wright has been an essential factor in the success of TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies," Koonin said in a statement. "Michael's relationships with creative talent, his eye for storytelling, his deep understanding of each network's unique brand voice and his ability to assemble and lead an extraordinary team have all combined to empower us within the industry. Michael is a great programmer and partner, and I look forward to working with him on shaping the multi-screen future of our business."

Before joining Turner, Wright served as vice president of movies and miniseries for CBS Productions and CBS Entertainment.

Judd Apatow and Lena Dunham's acclaimed new US comedy series Girls will air in the UK on Sky Atlantic in September, it has been confirmed.

The show follows the "humiliations and rare triumphs" of four girls Hannah, Marnie, Jessa and Shoshanna, who all love in New York.

Hannah, played by Lena Dunham, is described as a "mixture of self-entitlement and self-loathing" and is a wannabe writer. Allison Williams plays Marnie, Hannah's roommate and best friend, who has a job and a serious boyfriend.

Jemima Kirke is cast as Jess, "a live-and-let-live bohemian" who has lots of jobs and lots of boyfriends. Completing the main cast is Mad Men's Zosia Mamet as Shoshanna, who is billed as "a NYU student obsessed with 'women's issues', gluten-free foods and sexcentric self-help".

The occasionally temperamental supermodel has signed on to serve as one of the coaches on Oxygen's upcoming unscripted offering "The Face."

The series, which comes as part of Oxygen's push to boost its original programming by 50 percent, will feature three supermodel coaches leading and mentoring their teams of aspiring models through the ins and outs of the modeling world.

"Throughout the series, the supermodel coaches will mentor these young hopefuls through the tricks of the trade while exposing them to the very best photographers, stylists and designers in the fashion world," Oxygen said of the series.

The winning contestant of the series will receive a contract to model for a major national brand.

The show's other coaches, as well as the brand that the contestants will be vying to represent, will be announced at a later date.

"The Face" will be produced by Shine America, the people behind such reality fare as “The Biggest Loser,” “Tabatha Takes Over,” “Shear Genius” and “The Buried Life."

“I am looking forward to working in partnership with Oxygen and Shine America to discover the next beautiful face of the modeling world," Campbell said of the series. "With ‘The Face’ the audience will get a real insider’s look at this exciting industry that has been so good to me."